While the Indian Air Force (IAF) is ‘‘fully equipped’’ to send a contingent to Iraq to support Indian combat troops it has ruled out the possibility of sending combat aircraft. Speaking on the sidelines of a flagging-off ceremony of the largest IAF contingent to the Democratic Republic of Congo to participate in the ongoing peace-keeping mission, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy today said: ‘‘It all depends on the Government. If they ask us to go we are ready, but I don’t think we need to send combat aircraft to Iraq.’’However, Krishnaswamy ruled out the possibility of any pre-induction training if Indian troops were called upon to enforce peace in Iraq. According to him the IAF’s role would be to ‘‘support Army operations and that includes transportation, casualty evacuation and logistic support.’’Krishnaswamy, who returned from a trip to Male also revealed that India has donated a low power radar as goodwill gesture. ‘‘They needed a radar for civil aviation safety and our personnel are in Male training them in operating and maintaining the radar,’’ he said.On the UN mission to Congo, the Air Chief did not rule out the possibility of Indian forces being called upon to operate against the rebels. ‘‘We are sending four gunships and they will be used if the UN Force Commander requires them.’’ Ruling out any offensive operations in keeping with the UN’s operational philosophy, Krishnaswamy pointed out that the four Mi-25 helicopter gunships travelling with the contingent was fully equipped to deal with any situation.Led by Group Captain K.S. Gill, the contingent will be deployed near the border with Rwanda and Uganda which has seen a spurt in violence in recent times. The operations will also see Mi-17 helicopters with night-flying capability being deployed for the first time.
